The Twins have announced that Byron Buxton is being put on the 60-day injured list, and his season is over. Earlier today on MLB Network Radio, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the Twins are “bracing for the realization this this could be [Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton’s] season ending right now.” Shoulder surgery is being considered, which would make Buxton unavailable for the rest of the regular season or the postseason.

Update: This story is being updated as new announcements are made.

We feel the same way Byron.

Buxton has been a linchpin for the Twins defense this year when healthy. Fangraphs.com’ Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR/150) shows him as being about 15 runs better than an average centerfielder over 150 games played. There is also an additional negative cascading affect, as his presence in center allows Max Kepler to play right field, where he is also six runs better in UZR/150 than his most likely replacement, Jake Cave.

Twenty-one runs, at a high level, represents two games over a full season, but the perception of the loss is magnified by the concern about the Twins defense around the diamond. Of the Twins seven infielders and outfielders who have played the most at their positions, only Buxton and Kepler are deemed above average by UZR. Plus, Kepler was also pulled out of Sunday’s game with an injury, although an MRI on Monday for an injured scapula came back negative.

Buxton’s shoulder injury, along with two other injuries, also have short-circuited a breakthrough season for the 25-year-old. He had posted the highest batting average (.262), on-base percentage (.314) and slugging percentage (.513) of his career. He was also showing a better eye at the plate (19 walks versus 68 strikeouts) and of course was a weapon on the base paths with 19 stolen bases.

However, injuries have remained an issue. Last year was torpedoed due to a broken toe suffered from a foul ball in AAA-Rochester. This year he missed 13 games in June with a wrist injury after he was hit by a pitch. He then missed 10 games in July with a concussion after making a diving catch in the outfield. He returned but ran into a wall on August 1st, suffering a left (non-throwing) shoulder subluxation. He has not batted in the majors since.

He will finish this year with 87 games played, 3.2 bWAR, and 2.7 fWAR. He is a special player. But my god, it's like groundhog's day over and over. Gotta find a way for him to be healthy for 120+ games.

This is one of those times that I remind myself that the Twins weren't supposed to contend this year, that to some degree we're playing with house money, and the window really opens in the next couple years.

He's an example of how WAR can overvalue given extreme/questionable defensive data. His bWAR is within 0.5 of Cruz right now. No. Nevertheless, he COULD be special with relatively modest, but consistent improvement in his offensive game...and he showed real signs of moving in that direction this year.

But, for 2020 and beyond, the Twins need to be coming up with 3 legitimate major-league outfielders not named Buxton. Does that mean you part ways? Not necessarily. Does it mean you're forced to show more patience/commitment with Rosario than you would otherwise? Maybe. But one way or the other, as a FO, you wouldn't be doing your job if you simply assumed he'd be your every-day center fielder moving forward.

This is one of those times that I remind myself that the Twins weren't supposed to contend this year, that to some degree we're playing with house money, and the window really opens in the next couple years.

Needless to say, it's not a great balm.

Don't bet on it my friend. You have to take the chance when you are hot. I am not saying this team won't be successful again, but this is a special year with this offense.

This is one of those times that I remind myself that the Twins weren't supposed to contend this year, that to some degree we're playing with house money, and the window really opens in the next couple years.

Needless to say, it's not a great balm.

I don't think that's really true. Certainly not in preseason TD threads, nor in plenty of national prognostications.

It doesn't matter, of course, but I disagree anyone's "playing with house money."